Curve Balls

My Christmas present to Sean last year

I have packed 30 boxes. The boys are all prepared for their move to Walkerville. I have been emotionally preparing myself for ages. We are set to move in just over three weeks time. So what could go wrong?...

Great question...

Sean has still not got a job offer.  For most this would probably be the biggie, the big "No, don't go. It must be a sign" yet for me, this has not been a major concern.  I have, contrary to my personality, actually taken this in my stride. 

Today (4 March) I just found out that the people who were going to rent our flat (which forms part of our living income when we move) have decided to take another unit in the same complex.

We have signed our lease for the place in Eikenhof but as there is still some work to do on the house we are holding off on paying the deposit until we can be guaranteed that the finishing touches will be completed before we move in. No response to that yet.

And so here I sit.  Wondering whether to laugh or cry (I have done both).  The news of our flat was quite a blow to me and so, I just let myself let it out and I cried. Hard, but not for long.  I thought back to a few things that have happened recently which make me see God's hand so clearly in all this that seems so much like 'chaos'.

Firstly, on Saturday, Sean showed Ang and I a video clip.  The content was great but what stood out for me most were these words (I paraphrase): "Don't put a full stop where God has put a comma".  The story has not ended.  He continue to explain that many of the greatest biblical characters experienced what we are experiencing right now.  The city of Jericho was too well fortified.  Abraham was too old.  David was too young.  Peter denied Jesus. Jesus was too well known... I could go on.  But that was not the end of their stories.  And this is not the end of ours.  The walls of Jericho fell, Abraham had a son, David slayed a giant, Peter built the church, Jesus died and rose. 

This morning I read a short devotion by John Piper.  This was before I heard the news of our flat.  And already this morning my spirit must have known that the words were needed.  He quotes Isaiah and how God rejoices to do good for his people.  What a wonderful promise, I thought, before I even realised how much I was going to need to hold to it.

So once I had had my cry, I started to rejoice.  I starting praising God as even though this is not how I would have liked things to go, he knows better.  And it can only be for our good.  I have prayed so much for His will to be done.  I have prayed only that we would be following him and not our own thoughts and desires.  I do not care if this all falls apart.  I do not care about looking like a 'fool' for what we have thought if this is all wrong.  All I care about is doing what He wills, His way and in His timing.  And so I rejoice and thank God who is good and faithful and is directing our lives as He wishes.  That has been my prayer.  How can I not see all this as His answer?

I must have read this somewhere at some time in my life, but after crying, then praying and then rejoicing, I had these words come to mind: "Maybe when we think everything is falling apart it is, in fact, that things are all falling together".

Watch this space.  God is moving!

25 March 2015: 
God is indeed moving. We have finalised our lease for Walkerville and will be moving on Saturday. Still no job for Sean and wewe are still holding out in faith for a tenant for our flat but it is in His hands and timing.  I am learning, slowly and with many tears, to let God do what He does best... Be God!